Can-heading machine



No. 620,653. 1 Patented Mar. 7, I899. B. D. HUME.

CAN READING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 620,653. Patented Mar. 7, I899. R. D. HUME.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT D. HUME, OF GOLD BEACH, OREGON.

CAN-HEADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 620,653, dated March '7, 1899.

Application filed November 1, 1897. Serial No. 657,078. (No model.)

To (bl Z whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT D. HUME, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gold Beach, in the county of Curry and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Heading Machines; and I do hereby declare that .the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to machines for automatically heading cans, and more particularly to headers ofthe kind described in my Letters Patent No. 576,122, granted February 2, 1897, in which can bodies and heads are assembled and united by a connected mechanism.

My present invention relates particularly to the means for operating the heading-rams, to special means for delivering the can-heads, to the means for operating the can-body carrier or support, and to means for discharging the headed cans.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the header. Fig. 2 is an opposite side elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the heading-rams. Fig. 5 is a detail section of the means for operating one of the can-head-crimping sections. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the upper part of the header, showinga can-body and two can-heads in position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear elevation of part of the can-carrier to illustrate the can-head feed. Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the heading-rams, showing the crimping-sections. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the clutch which transmits motion in one direction to the can-carrier. Fig. 10 is a crosssection of the same.

The mechanism shown in the drawings is supposed to be part of an automatic can-machine and is located at the end of along hollow and stationary horn D, having a movable extension D. This horn is a prolongation of the can body forming mechanism, which forms no part of the present invention. The extension D is operated by a rod G, Fig. 1, connected to the side bar 0, which is caused to reciprocate by connections from the drivin g-shaft of the can-machine. The extension D in the patent before referred to was both a can-body carrier for introducing such bodies to the header and a plunger for discharging the headed cans. In the present construction its only'function is to introduce'the bodies. Near the end of the table or frame A is mounted the heading mechanisrn,which is supported by two standards B B. Between these standardsis jou rnaled, upon ahorizontal longitudinal axis, the intermittingly-rotating carrier L, having a peripheral gear L and a series of can-holding chambers L The extension D in its forward movement carries a can-body into the lowest of this series of chambers, a yielding stop L being located in the standard B to insure the proper placing of the can-body in position.

The can-carrier L derives an intermittent rotary motion in one direction from the reciprocating side bar Othat is,'it moves step by step in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 at the strokes of the side bar. The derivation of this rotary motion from a direct reciprocating motion is accomplished by connections shown'in Fig. 1. A worm-shaft I, jour= naled in standards 2 on the main frame, is engaged by a roller 3 on the side bar. This worm-shaft is connected by a clutch to apinion 4:, which is in gear with the gear L and by means of which the carrier derives a motion in only one direction or on the backward stroke of the side bar, remaining at rest while a can is being headed during the forward stroke of said side bar. The purpose of the clutch connection is therefore to make the rocking or oscillating motion of the wormshaft efiective in only one direction. The details of the clutch are shown in Figs. 9 and 10, which should be referred to in connection with Fig. 1. The clutch 5 is a disk fixed on the worm-shaft and recessed to receive the hub 6 of pinion 4. The hub 6 is grooved, as shown in Fig. 10, the bottom of the groove being of angular shape to provide a shoulder 7. A pawl 8, pivoted in the clutch, is pressed by a spring 9 into the groove, so as to bear upon the shoulder at one motion of the shaft and drive the loose pinion. The other motion is ineffective to operate the pinion and simply presses the pawl into the recess in which it is pivoted; but a holding-pawl 1 is pivpted in the main frame to bear positively in "the opposite direction against a shoulder in the hub of the pinion to act as a positive stop. Since the utmost accuracy is desirable in the operation'of heading, I have also provided a positive stop operated by the side bar G for stopping the rotary carrier in exactly the proper place. The forward end of the side bar is provided with opposite inclines or cams 10 and 11, which slide through a yoke formed upon the lower end of a lever 12. The upper end of this lever slides through a slot 13 in the stop-rod 11, the slot having inclined walls, so that the verticallyunoving lever 12 can operate the stop-rod at right angles. The end of the stop-rod engages with the carrier and positively stops the same in proper position.

The can-bodies carried around by the rotation of the can-carrier arrive in turn at a position between two heading-rams M N, which force the heads upon the ends of the canbodies protruding from the chambers in the carrier. These rams slide in guides upon the standards B B opposite the highest can-holding chamber, and are forced toward each other and away from each other simultaneously.

Each ram consists of a ring M, a coveringplate M and an independent plunger M forming part of the slide which moves in the guides upon the stationary standard Springs 15 are interposed between the slide and the ring M. A separate spring-pad O is connected by a spring 16 to the plunger M so that the movement of the slides first presses these pads against the separate can-heads T, Fig. 6, forces them upon the can-body, and holds them there. The heads are firmly secured upon the body by the crimping-sections P, carried and operated by the rams. The sections in each ram are carried between the ring M and plate M and are driven inwardly against the flange of the can-head by the beveled pins 17, carried by the plunger M and which are forced against beveled surfaces 18 on the crimping-sections. Four of these sections are shown, Fig. 8, and together they surround the can-head flange, making a continuous crease or groove in the flange, which tightly secures it upon the body.

In order to operate the two heading-rams simultaneously, a lever 19 is pivoted to the standard B, from the end of which a pitman 20 is connected directly to the slide of the ram N, Fig. 2. Below the pivotal point of the lever another pitman 21 is connected to a sliding shaft 22, which passes centrally through the hub of the can-carrier which rotates upon it, Fig. 6. The shaft 22 is connected to the slide of the ram M. The oscillation of the lever 19 pushes the ram N and simultaneously pulls the ram M to bring them together in heading the can while the can-carrier is stationary, the reverse movement withdrawing them to the position of Fig. 6 when the can-carrier is in motion. Fig. 2 shows the connections for automatically operating the lever 19, consisting of a pitman 23, a lever 24 pivoted thereto and to the main frame, and a rod 25, which is supposed to extend along the can-machine on the side opposite the side bar 0 and to derive a properly-timed reciprocating motion from a cam or in any suitable wayfor instance, as shown in my Letters Patent No. 576,125, of February 2, 1897.

A can which has been headed will be driven out of the chamber which carries it by a discharging-plunger It, Fig. 2, the stem of which slides in bearings in the standard B and is connected by a link 26'to the pitman 23. The headed cans fall into a discharging-chute S, complete in all respects, with the exception of solder-in g the heads, which is usually done in a separate head-soldering machine. In this connection it will be noticed, Figs. 1 and 3, that the ends of the can-bodies in the carrier are caused to pass in contact with rollers U U, journaled in acid or flux baths V V, mounted on the standards of the header.

These rollers apply acid to the edges of the I body previously to heading, which facilitates the operation of head-solderin g subsequently to the heading operation.

The can-head-feeding chutes 27 27 are arranged substantially as shown in my patent referred to; but the devices for restraining the can-heads in the chutes and for feeding them singly into the header are operated by the can-carrier itself. Each can-chamber before it arrives in line with the rams strikes a lever 28, pivoted to the header-standard and connected by an arm 29 to a rock-shaft 30. The lever 28 falls normally into a slot in the projecting end of the can-holding chamber, which may be in line with the rams, Fig. 7. The end of the succeeding chamber (which is the'one to the right in Fig. 7) strikes the lever 28 and causes it to rise, thereby operating the feed and releasing the heads for the can in what I have termed the succeeding chamber. On the rock-shaft 30 are two sets of fingers 31 32, one in each chute, which antomatically hold and release the can-heads, permitting one to escape from each chute and holding back the remainder. The canheads when in position for heading rest upon the ring M, as shown in Fig. 6.

The machine is shown as adapted to the heading of round cans; butit is obvious that without material change the improvements described can be adapted to and used for heading cans of cross-section other than round.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a can-heading machine, a rotary cancarrier,havin g can-holding chambers and provided with a peripheral gear, in combination with oppositely-actin g heading-rams, a pinion engaging with such gear, and means for giving an intermittent rotation in the same direction to said pinion.

2. In a can-heading machine, a rotary cancarrier having can-holding chambers and provided with a peripheral gear, in combination with an oscillating shaft, a loose pinion thereon engaging said gear, a clutch on said shaft for alternately engaging with and releasing lever pivoted thereto and connected to one of said rams, a sliding shaft, forming the journal or axis for said carrier and connected to the other of said rams, and means for oscillating said lever to produce a simultaneous movement of both rams.

5. In a can-heading machine supportingstandards, a shaft sliding longitudinally in said standard, a. can carrier journaled between said standards and upon said shaft, oppositely-movable heading-rams sliding in said standards, a lever pivoted to one of the standards and connected by a direct connection to one of said rams and by said sliding shaft to the other ram, and means for operating said lever.

6. In a can-heading machine, the combination with a rotary can-carrier, and with oppositely-movable heading-rams, of a reciprocating side bar, a rocking shaft having a worm and connected to the side bar, and carrying a fixed clutch-disk engaging with a pinion at alternate oscillations of the worm-shaft, and a gear on the can-carrier engaging said pinion.

7 In a can-heading machine, a rotary cancarrier having can-holding chambers, in combination with a can-head feed-chute, a head retaining and releasing device for feeding the heads singly from said chute, a slot in the wall of each can-holding chamber, a lever normally extending into said slot, and connections from said lever for operating the canhcad retaining and releasing devices.

8. In a can-heading machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a rotary cancarrier journaled therein and having chambers from which the ends of the can-bodies project, a flux-bath mounted on the frame, anda flux-roller mounted on an axis at right angles to the axisof the can, said roller being of a length not less than the diameter of the can and adapted to rotate in contact with the edge of the can in the movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a can-heading machine and in combination, a rotary can-carrier, a plunger for seating can-bodies therein, two oppositelyacting heading-rams, and a second plunger for discharging headed cans from said carrier.

10. In a can-heading machine, the combination with the rotary can-carrier and with heading mechanism operating in connection therewith, of a sliding rod, adapted to engage with and act as a stop for the carrier, a reciprocating side bar and a lever connecting said side bar with said stop-rod.

11. In a can-heading machine, the combination with the rotary can-carrier, and with heading mechanism, of a sliding rod adapted to engage with said carrier, a lever engaging with said rod by means of inclined surfaces on said rod and lever, and a reciprocating side bar connected to said lever, and having oppositely-placed cams.

12. In a can-heading machine, a rotary carrier, having a series of projecting can-holding chambers, means for operating said carrier, and a stop adapted to engage said projecting chambers and connected to said operating means.

13. In a can-heading machine, the combination with the rotary can-carrier and with heading mechanism operating in connection therewith, of a reciprocating side bar having opposite inclines or cams, a lever engaging therewith and having an inclined end, and a stop-rod having an inclined slot and engaging said lever.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of October, 1897.

ROBERT D. HUME.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, lLJ. LANG. 

